Former Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has tipped David Luiz to win back his place in Chelsea's first team after a tough start to the season.

Despite playing a major role in the Blues lifting the Premier League title last season, things haven't gone according to plan for the Brazilian so far this campaign.

Dropped from his side's 1-0 win over Manchester United in November by Antonio Conte, the 30-year-old was named on the bench for the recent games against West Brom and Liverpool with Andreas Christensen once again getting the nod at the back.

With the player currently recovering from a knee injury, Essien, his former teammate at Stamford Bridge, believes his future is still in west London.

"Sell him? I am not sure. He is one of the leaders at the moment," Essien said in an interview with Goal.

"When you want to do something you need the leaders, you need that experience so hopefully he will still be around for a long time. When he was with me he was a crazy guy but in a good way

"You need that as a player. He is not that old, 30 years old, he's still young to me. He has a strong leadership in him and that's good for the team. It is good to have him in the dressing room. It is very funny, he jokes around but he's serious when he's playing.

"It is sad how people forget last season so soon. It is what it is, this happens in football. He is still one of the best in my eyes. He's out injured but I think he will come back strong and play for Chelsea."